Cardinal Winning Lecture 2024
The title of this year's Cardinal Winning Lecture is Catholic Schools: In an increasingly secular context, who are we and what is our role?
The speaker is Philip Robinson, Chief Inspector of Catholic Schools for England & Wales.
It takes place on Saturday 20 April 2024 from 11.15am -12.30pm at the Saltire Lecture Theatre 438AB, James McCune Smith Building, University Avenue, Glasgow.
Holy Mass will precede the lecture in the University Chapel at 9:30am.
Reserve your place: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cardinalwinninglecture2024/1176577
Philip Robinson
Philip took up the post of Chief Inspector to the Catholic Schools Inspectorate in July of 2023.
Prior to that, and for the last ten years, he served as the Religious Education Adviser to the Catholic Education Service which acts on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales to promote and sustain Catholic education in the 2,209 Catholic schools in that province. Before that he was the religious education adviser for the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
Prior to both advisory roles he was a teacher of religious education for fourteen years, including five years leading an ‘outstanding religious education department’. In addition to his professional commitments, Philip is also currently in the final year of his doctoral studies, focusing on the question of how Catholic religious education can remain authentically Catholic while still meeting the external societal and legal demands that are placed upon it.
Enthusiastic group on the road to teaching the faith
More pupils will benefit from learning the faith as a group of teachers earn their Catholic Teaching Certificate.
They attended the Gillis Centre in Edinburgh for the ‘Setting Out on the Road’ course, delivered by The St Andrew’s Foundation at the University of Glasgow.
The Foundation is responsible for Catholic Teacher Education in Scotland and its courses develop and promote Catholic teaching in schools across the country. Dr Roisín Coll, Director of the Foundation, said: "We are delighted to be teaching this course here in Edinburgh and continuing our work to ensure that there are appropriately qualified teachers for our schools. The hospitality and support from the Archdiocese has been wonderful."
Eileen Rafferty, RE advisor for Schools in the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, said: “This is the first time the Catholic Teaching Certificate via the Setting Out on the Road course has been delivered in Edinburgh.
“It equips those taking part to teach and explain the Catholic faith. We now look forward to a continuation of this fruitful partnership in years to come.”
Megan McGhee, a teacher at St Andrew’s Primary in Dundee, agreed, saying: “Children can often come up with bizarre questions, so today we’ve been learning about the Word of God and how to portray and explain this to them."
Paul Flanigan, a teacher at St Parick’s Primary in Denny, agreed saying: “The questions can also be quite deep so it’s important to be equipped with an understanding to give the right answers.”
Ellen McBride, Honorary Teaching Fellow of the University of Glasgow, said: “This group are enthusiastic and willing to learn. We need people like that - who know their faith and who are confident and willing to share it.”